March Madness 2022: Providence snaps South Dakota State's winning streak at 21

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Al Durham had 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists and Jared Bynum made three big free throws with 29.9 seconds left as Providence snapped the longest winning streak in college basketball by beating South Dakota State 66-57 Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The fourth-seeded Friars (26-5) advanced to face Iowa or Richmond in the Midwest Region on Saturday.

It was a typical grind for the Big East regular-season champions. The Friars' turnaround season after going 13-13 in 2020-21 now includes 16 victories by single-digits.

The Jackrabbits (30-6) came in on a 21-game winning streak and were a popular pick to spring the tournament’s first upset.

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Providence's Nate Watson (0) defends South Dakota State's Douglas Wilson (35) in the first half of a college basketball game during the first round of the NCAA men's tournament Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

So popular that it really wouldn’t have been much of an upset. The Friars were only a two-point favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

All those close games have led to some calling Providence the luckiest team in America. The Friars like to think of themselves as a gritty team that makes winning plays late in close games — as they did Thursday.

The Friars were up three in the final minute and Bynum let loose a 3-pointer with 3 seconds left on the shot clock. The shot missed, but Douglas Wilson was whistled for a foul. Bynum released the ball before contact, but Wilson appeared to hit the shooter's arm and bump him before he landed.

SDSU coach Eric Henderson put his head in his